J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2007 Dec;48(12):1614-1622.

Current Trends in the Recognition and Treatment of Dry Eye: A Survey of Ophthalmologists

• Kim WJ
• Kim HS
• Kim MS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Based on the questionnaires for dry eyes in 2006, we have investigated the current status and new trends in the recognition and management of the dry eye.
METHODS
We ask the 15 questionnaires to 197 ophthalmologists. After reorganizing the data based on each questions, we compared the result with the most current studies in Korea and other countries as well. Then, we report the current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye.
RESULTS
Dry eye patients account for take up about 20-30% of total outpatients and it is currently accepted etiology that dry eye inflammation is related to the function of the immune system. Patient's symptoms and slit lamp examination are important for diagnosis. An anti-inflammatory therapy is needed for patients with moderate to severe dry eye.
CONCLUSIONS
Increasingly, there are positive attitudes toward accepting that persistent dry eye is an inflammatory disease; therefore, there are increases in use of an anti-inflammatory agent for treatment.

Keyword

Dry eye; Dysfunctional tear syndrome; Lacrimal functional unit

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Humans
Immune System
Inflammation
Korea
Outpatients
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Figure 1. A proportion of dry eye patients in outpatient clinics. Red numbers mean the percentage of respondents. Parenthesized red numbers mean the number of respondents.

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  Figure 2. Most commonly used diagnostic tests for evaluating a patient with probable dry eye. Red numbers mean the percentage of respondents. Parenthesized red numbers mean the number of respondents.

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  Figure 3. The gold diagnostic method for dry eye Red numbers mean the percentage of respondents. Parenthesized red numbers mean the number of respondents.

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  Figure 4. Most useful indicator of improvement in treatment of dry eye. Red numbers mean the percentage of respondents. Parenthesized red numbers mean the number of respondents.

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